The Kingdom of Asgrim
The Kingdom of Asgrim
The game is focused upon a heavily guarded pass through the magical mountains known as the Keep of St. Asgrim (usually just called the Keep). The Keep was built almost 350 years ago after an army, formed from 17 disparate forces and led by a charismatic human monk, reclaimed the pass from a powerful Orc tribe that had held it for almost 50 years. The leaders of the 17 component forces became the founders of the 17 noble houses of this land, and the monk founded the royal dynasty. The system of government was one of order and predictability. After 50 years of chaos the people welcomed it. The need to maintain the Keep is a focus of the laws of the region to this day. Most serious (and many minor) criminal offences result in conscription into service at the Keep (usually on the most dangerous patrols). Conscription into the Keep guard is also the price for failure to pay many debts, although these conscripts face kinder duties while their pay goes to offset their debt. Regardless of the reason for their conscription, all conscripts live as well-kept slaves and their mobility is restricted. An extensive system of quotas, protocols, and procedures run most aspects of the Keep and much of life in this region. This system is beginning to weaken, however.
The 17 noble houses have been using their prerogative to work around many royal decrees and are applying extensive pressure for more freedom and autonomy. The royal house recognizes that the world has changed but doesn’t want to become a figurehead. They also know that the danger from the lands beyond the Keep, commonly called the Orc lands because of the large numbers of Orc tribes, has not fully passed. The royal house and two noble houses play a central role in this current story.
The Royal Asgrim
The Royal Asgrim rule over the kingdom that bears their name, although they only have a direct hand in the day-to-day affairs of the Keep (and area), a region far inland near the capitol, and several monasteries strategically scattered about the region. Theirs is a life of contemplation and order from the day they are born. All those of royal blood receive at least one level of monk training, although some never actually achieve this level due to their lack of internal focus (non-lawful alignment). These unlucky few earn a level of unarmed oriented fighter for their time but are barred from official duties and considered fit only for military service.
The royal house is strongly aligned with the church of St. Cuthbert (LN God of Justice). Together they do all they can to ensure that their populace has a predictable life. Sexism and racism are seen as undisciplined behaviour, although half-orcs still have problems. Although the royal family doesn’t directly persecute based upon religion, the priests of St. Cuthbert have no such qualms and use their royal ties to ensure they do so without breaking any laws.
As might be guessed, the majority of the royal house is lawful neutral, and any royal of chaotic alignment is in the military or disowned. The royal family runs several orphanages where they raise unwanted or orphaned children in much the same manner as monks. This is where most of the royal guard and royal servants come from. The royal family has a favourable image among the majority of the populace, but there is definite grumbling about the blind eye they turn to the persecutions of the chaotic religions. There is also a definite chafing under the layers of rules and bureaucracy they maintain, but it is only a low grumbling thus far.